When it comes to influencing BBC policy, even Dame Judi Dench lacks the clout you might expect.

More than five years ago, the actress lobbied unsuccessfully to persuade former BBC director-general Mark Thompson to abandon the practice of squeezing down programme credits, today’s Stage reveals.

Dame Judi wrote to the then DG in 2007 objecting to the practice, which many people believe is unfair to actors whose names do not get displayed properly. Instead, the credits are “shrunk” and a loud voiceover plugs a forthcoming programme.

The BBC has confirmed that Dame Judi wrote a letter to Thompson in 2007, in which other grievances were addressed, but declined to elaborate.

However, all is not lost. Fortunately for the actress, the issue resurfaced last February with a report by actors union Equity which showed that the majority of viewers objected to the practice of credit squeezing, complaining how it ruined their viewing experience and prompted them to switch channels.

The BBC has since pledged that at least one episode of a drama or comedy series will not have its credits crunched, while Sky recently promised to abolish the practice altogether.